Music / Arts - 3456
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au
Campus: Kensington Campus
Career: Undergraduate
Typical Duration: 5 Years
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 240
UAC Code: 422004
ATAR: N/A 
International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements
Award(s):
Bachelor of Arts (Major)
Bachelor of Arts (Minor)
Bachelor of Music (Major)
Information valid for students commencing 2013.
Students who commenced prior to 2013 should go to the Handbook's Previous Editions
Program Description
The Dual award degree Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts (BMus BA) is a five year program (full-time) that offers intensive pre-professional training in four streams: Music Creative Practice, Music Inquiry, Sonic Arts and Music Pedagogy. All streams are supported by a variety of large and small, western and non-western music ensembles as well as extensive opportunities for developing musicianship skills.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
Please refer to the program objectives and graduate attributes as listed for the Bachelor of Music 3436 and the Bachelor of Arts 3403.
Program Structure
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Dual Mode
The basic requirements for the degree in Dual mode (144 UOC) are:
- Musicology Core (30 UOC)
- Musicianship Core (24 UOC)
- Performance Laboratory Core (48 - 54 UOC)
- Stream Gateway Course (6 UOC)
- Prescribed Stream and Music electives (18 – 24 UOC)
- Directed Study (6 UOC)
- Music Capstone (6 UOC)
Dual Mode with Bachelor of Arts
Because both Dual programs are internal to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences the General Education (GE) Exemption for Dual programs does not apply.
For students completing the BMus in this Dual mode the Prescribed Faculty Elective in the BA is replaced with an approved GE course to meet 6 UOC of the GE requirement. The other 6 UOC is to be taken by converting a Prescribed Music Elective into an approved GE course. This completes the 12 UOC GE requirement.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Stream Gateway Course
Prescribed Electives
Level 4 (Pass)
Prescribed Electives
Level 4 (Honours)
For practice focused candidates
- List A Faculty-wide seminar (6 UOC)
- Practice-based Project (composition portfolio, project or recital) (24 UOC)
- Thesis (18 UOC)
OR
For research focused candidates
- List A Faculty-wide seminar (6 UOC)
- Music research seminar (12 UOC)
- Thesis (30 UOC)
Prescribed Electives
Prescribed stream and music electives are chosen from the list of offerings published by the program.
Award with Distinction
High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at at least 48 UOC of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".
Honours
High achieving BMus students (in Single or Dual mode) may apply for entry to Honours. Honours is taken in year four of the Program and allows a student to further explore their studies. It involves seminars and a thesis for candidates focusing on music research OR one seminar, a thesis, and the completion of a practice-based project for candidates focusing on music practice. Those students who are considering Honours should submit an expression of interest at the beginning of Level 4 and complete a formal application at the end of Level 4. Both should be submitted to the Honours Convenor of the School of the Arts and Media. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the depth component of the program and is subject to resources and the approval of the Head of School in which the stream(s) is/are based. Honours is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions, and Class 3). If requirements for these classes are not met the Pass degree will be awarded if the student is not already a Graduate of the program.
Performance Ensembles
BMus students must take part in a required number of the performance ensembles offered by the School, one of which must be a major performing ensemble.
Academic Rules
To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:
- enrol in the Bachelor of Music and complete 144 UOC
- complete the core requirements
- complete the prescribed elective requirements
- complete at least 36 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
- complete at least 36 UOC of Level 2 courses before enrolling in Level 3 courses
- complete at least 36 UOC of Level 3 courses before enrolling in Level 4 courses
- complete at least 120 UOC overall before enrolling in the Capstone course
Honours
To qualify for the award of the degree with Honours, a student must:
- hold a WAM of 70 or higher, by the end of Level 3, in those streams they are seeking to further study
- complete the List A coursework requirement for their area of study (6 UOC)
- complete a practical project (24 UOC)
- complete a research project or thesis (18 UOC)
OR
- hold a WAM of 70 or higher, by the end of Level 3, in those streams they are seeking to further study
- complete the List A coursework requirement for their area of study (6 UOC)
- complete the music research seminar (12 UOC)
- complete a thesis (30 UOC)
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Dual Mode
Program Structure
- A home major major stream (54 UOC)
- At least a minor stream (36 UOC)
- A prescribed faculty elective (6 UOC)
Details of home majors and minors available, and the Prescribed Faculty Elective, can be found on the Bachelor of Arts 3403 program page.
Academic Rules
To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:
- enrol in the Bachelor of Arts and complete 96 UOC;
- complete the requirements for one home major stream
- complete the requirements for one minor stream
- complete a 6 UOC Prescribed Faculty Elective
- complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
- specify their major(s)/minor at the time of enrolment into Level 2
- complete at least 24 UOC in their major/minor before enrolling in Level 3 courses
- complete 72 UOC overall before enrolling in their Major stream(s) Capstone course
Honours
To qualify for the award of the degree with Honours, a student must:
- be a Graduand or Graduate of the Bachelor of Arts
- hold a WAM of 70 or higher in those streams they are seeking to further study
- complete the List A and List B seminar coursework requirement for their area of study (18 UOC)
- complete a research project or thesis (30 UOC)
Award with Distinction
High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at least 48 UOC of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".
Honours
High achieving BA students (in Single or Dual mode) may apply for entry to Honours. Honours is an additional year of study (two years part-time) which allows a student to further explore their depth studies. It involves seminars and the completion or a research project or thesis. Those students who are considering Honours should submit an expression of interest at the beginning of Level 4 and complete a formal application at the end of Level 4. Both should be submitted to the Stream Convenor or the Designated School or Stream Honours Convenor. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the stream(s) seeking to be further studied and is subject to resources and the approval of the Head of School in which the stream(s) is/are based. Honours is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions, and Class 3). If requirements for these classes are not met the Pass degree will be awarded if the student is not already a Graduate of the program.
Eligible students may commence the relevant Honours program only when they have completed the requirements for the equivalent of a Single degree for that program (i.e where an Arts student in a Dual program would like to commence Honours they must have completed at least the 96 UOC Arts core degree plus 48 UOC for the Music degree such that a total of 144 UOC has been completed).
Minor Streams and Honours
Students can complete a research project or thesis that draws on their studies in a minor stream. This can only be done, however, when in combination with their major stream.
Sample Program
It is strongly recommended that students follow the sample program to ensure compliance with course requirements.
| Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts (BMus BA) - Example for Music Creative Practice Stream | |||||
| Level 1Semester 1 | MUSC1101 Music Reinvented (6 UOC) | MUSC1602 Materials & Structures 1(6 UOC) | MUSC1702 Performance Laboratory 1 (Advanced) (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 1 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 1Semester 2 | MUSC1603 Materials & Structures 2 (6 UOC) | MUSC1604 Western Music: a Panorama (6 UOC) | MUSC1705 Performance Laboratory 2 (Advanced) (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 1 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 2Semester 1 | MUSC2116 Sound, Society, and Self in World Music (6 UOC) | MUSC2602 Materials & Structures 3 (6 UOC) | MUSC2701 Performance Laboratory 3 (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 2 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 2Semester 2 | MUSC2601 Advanced Studies in Music History & Culture 1 (6 UOC) | MUSC2603 Materials & Structures 4 (6 UOC) | MUSC2702 Performance Laboratory 4 (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 2 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 3Semester 1 | MUSC3601 Advanced Studies in Music History & Culture 2 (6 UOC) | Minor Level 1 (6 UOC) | MUSC3701 Performance Laboratory 5 (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 2 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 3Semester 2 | Prescribed Stream Elective (6 UOC) | Minor Level 1 (6 UOC) | MUSC3702 Performance Laboratory 6 (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 3 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 4Semester 1 | MUSC3602 Professional Practices (6 UOC) | Minor Level 2 (6 UOC) | MUSC4701 Performance Laboratory 7 (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 3 (6 UOC) | |
| Level 4Semester 2 | Minor Level 2 (6 UOC) | Home Major Level 3 (6 UOC) | MUSC4702 Performance Laboratory 8 (6 UOC) | Home Major Capstone (6 UOC) | |
Level 5 - PASS | |||||
| Semester 1 | MUSC4601 Directed Study (6 UOC) | Minor Level 3 (6 UOC) | MUSC4703 Performance Laboratory 9 (6 UOC) | General Education (6 UOC) | |
| Semester 2 | MUSC3101 Capstone (6 UOC) | Minor Level 3 (6 UOC) | Prescribed Music Elective (6 UOC) | General Education (6 UOC) | |
Details of the Honours program will be released at a later date.
Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts - Example for Music Inquiry Stream: click here
Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts - Example for Sonic Arts Stream: click here
Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts - Example for Music Pedagogy Stream: click here
Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts - Example for Sonic Arts Stream: click here
Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts - Example for Music Pedagogy Stream: click here
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html
Important Information
The Academic Rules for the BMusBA and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.
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